Table construction



Dec. 4', 1934. s. BELLOWS 1,983,065

TABLE CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 20, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Dec. 4,1934. w ows 1,983,065 I TABLE CONSTRUCTI ON F iled Oct. 20, 1932 ssneets-shet's lHIINIHHIIIHIIHIHHIIIHH'" v 'INVENTQR Patented Dec. 4,1934 Tum Tel) srA Es PATENT OFFICE Warren s. Bellows, Shaker Heights, om7 A plication October 20, 1932, Serial No. 638,695 1 5 Claims. (01.{IL-108) This inventionrelates to, improvements in tables and moreparticularly to collapsible portable tables and is a continuation inpart of my ccpending application Ser. No. 737,972, filed September 16,1924. r

Folding tables as heretofore constructed have usually been loosely puttogether and .the legs have been commonly secured to the top which isthe weakest part of the light weight portable tables. Inasmuch as suchtables were unsteady i when subjected to any great weight the use ofsuch tables hasbeen extremely limited and even .their use as gametableshas been objectionable. Not only have the legs been unsteady butfurthermore the, table top has been diflicult to change where adifferent type of cover was desired or where the cover was to be removedfor anyde-r sired purpose. These tables although primarily used for cardplaying are also suitably used for display purposes. 7 I

It is'the principal object of this invention to provide a substantialfolding table-with'a' strong rigid frame holding a lightweight removablecenter which can be attractively ornamented and in which the table hasfoldable legs directly secured to the frame for greatest strength andsimplicity of manufacture.

It is a further and more specific object of this invention to provide aportable table with a top supporting frame making a rabbeted joint withalightweight cover, whichframe is rigidly supported by a suitable legconstruction, the cover reducing the weight without reducing thestrength of the table. Y Another object of the invention is to provide atubular metal frame which may be welded or otherwise made into anintegral piece to hold a separate non-metallic center for a portabletable such as a card table which will have unusual rigidity andlightness.

' Another object of the invention to provide a portable table having aremovable center portion which is supported in a suitable frame to whichthe legs are directly attached, the center being removable forrecovering as desired and in which the frame may be decorated to moresatisfactorily harmonize with other beautiful furniture with which thetable may be used.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will appear fromthe following description thereof taken in connection with the attacheddrawings which illustrate preferred forms on it. Other forms of legconstructions may of lie within the flange formed by the side 10 of theFigure 2 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on the line2- 2 of Figure 1 showing the details of construction;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the table shown in Figure. 1;

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a detail show: ing a slightlydifferent form of construction;

Figure 5 is a plan-view of a. still further modified form ofconstruction, partially in section;

Figure 6 is a partial vertical section taken substantially on the line66 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 'Iis a partial vertical section of a still further modified formof construction.

A portable type of table for card playing, dis-, play purposes, orotherwise and embodying certain features of my invention is more clearlyshownin Figures 1 and 2. The table has, as its principal elements; arigid frame 10, a separable center portion 16 and the frame isdirectlysupported by collapsible legs 22.

The frame 10 may be made of wood, metal or other materials and if madeof wood, may be made in two pieces 10 and 10a, the pieces giving anattractive wide marginal portion or border 11. If desired, the frame 10may also be reinforced by suitable reinforcing strips 12 and 14reinforcv ing the corners and actingas'supports for the centerrespectively, as will be more fully explained hereafter.

The frame is supported directly by legs 22 which are held in open orextended position by suitable The'braces 24 which may he pivoted on thereinforcing strips 12 extend from points spaced from the pivot 26 oftheleg and will thus hold the legs in a'desired position bracing thelegs in both planes. As the legs are directly bracketed to the framewhich may preferably be made the strongest partof the table withoutincrease in weight, 5 the fraine will withstand extremely heavy loadsfor'such a table yet-without -shaking or undue strain and even with theusual use as a card table,

the table will not wobble if a player rests his hand 10. course be foundsuitable and the legs may be made in any desired shape and of metal orwood as desired.-

The legs will fold about their pivots 26 and 10 frame and the bottom ofthe marginal strip 10a. This facilitates close packing and carrying andprevents possibility of damage to the legs when the table is folded. Itis to be understood that mg any suitable clip may be used to hold thelegs in the folded position if found desirable.

In order to detachably support the center 16 flush with the top of theframe 10, I prefer to form an open rabbet groove 28 in the top of theframe to a depth corresponding to the thickness of the center support 18and any desired cover 20 which it may carry to form the desired center16. This rabbet 28 is thus arranged to receive the center 16 and thecenter will be held in a detachable manner to the frame 10 by suitablefastening means 30 which project at spaced intervals through the frame.and other materials may be used for this purpose, making possible theeasy removability of the cover.

When in position, the center is preferably flush with the marginal edge11 which may also be ornamented or otherwise decorated to correspondwith the cover material. The braces 14 may be used'to additionallysupport the center 16 to hold it more rigid throughout its length.Obviously, these strips are unnecessary where the center 16 isinherently strong enough to accomplish the purpose. The center may be ofany desired material but is preferably not metallic for lightness, andlaminated'wood structures are satisfactory.

The removable center has many advantages in that the table may beconstructed with any desired frame and the center may be inserted at asubsequent time and is substantially a separate entity. The center mayhave, for example, a transparent cover and advertising or ornamentalmatter placed under it for specific uses. Cover materials of treatedfabrics or celluloid may be used which are not stained or which can bewashed repeatedly without injuring the decorative effect on the centerportion. It is also possible to have a plurality of covers for a singleframe, each cover for example having a game, chart, or similar design onthe surface so that the table will have many separate uses.

If desired, the table top may have a narrow border 11a by slightlychanging the shape of the supporting frame 10b. In Figure 4, forexample, I have shown a solid block 10b in which the channel or rabbetportion 28 has been cut out leaving the exposed narrow marginal portion.In

such a construction the support 18 for the center 16 may similarly becovered with a suitable cover 20 of fabric or other flexible materialwhether it be transparent or otherwise. In this construction the legs22a are similarly secured to the frame 10b so that a strong bond maybe-made between the frame and the legs rather than in the prior forms ofconstructions in which the legs were secured to the center portion whichis nor.- mally the structurally weakest part of the table.

If desired, the table may be made with a tubular metal frame moreclearly shown in Figure 6. The frame 30 may be of any particularcrosssectional configuration and it preferably is provided with someprojecting means forming a support for the removable center portion. Oneform of construction includes angle brackets 32 which may be bolted orspot welded to the frame 30 in any desired fashion and either be boltedor otherwise removably secured by detachable means 33 to the removablecenter portion.

The cover 20 is preferably secured to the support 18 by tacks 34, cementor other securing means before the center portion is secured'to theframe. This makes separate handling of the center possible andfacilitates the stretching of the cover in place. After the cover issecured Screws, bolts, etc.,-

the frame.

to the center portion, and the center portion se-' cured in the frame,the contact between the cover and frame will prevent loosening and willgive a very attractive joint. I

It is also possible to apply two or more respective covers 20 and 20a tothe support 18, one of which may be transparent and the other of whichmay be ornamental.

On large tables it may be found desirable to employ reinforcing rods 36which may, if desired, project through the frame at right angles and bespaced from the center support 18 by additional angle brackets 38. Sucha reinforcing means accomplishes two purposes in that it not onlyprevents expansion of the frame but also cooperates to support thecenter which may be structurally weak.

Tubular frames made of steel for example, may be readily pressed to anydesired form or shape, and it may be found preferable to use aconstruction such as shown in Figure 7. In this in stance the metalframe 40 is provided with a narrow ledge -or marginal portion 41 and hasa suitable channel 42 forming a rabbet which will receive the centersupport 18 and the cover 20 and if desired a second cover 20a. as in theprevious form. This is very similar to the rabbet construction of Figure4. The legs 22 which may be of steel or wood and of any desired shapeare similarly secured to an inner flange 43 of the frame and onlyindirectly support the center and cover through the frame member. Such atable has considerable rigidity and may be preferred from a standpointof lightness to the wooden frame tables, especially when a lightlaminated or moulded product is used for the support 18.

The center support 18 and covering 20, if any, are intended to fitclosely within the rabbet of Preferably the covering will overlap theedge of the center support and then be held in firm contact between thesupport 18 and the bracket to which it is secured as well as beingsecured directly to the support 18. While this is not essential inasmuchas the cover may be secured to the center support in any other desiredmanner, it is nevertheless an additional feature which prevents thecloth from being inadvertently removed from the table.

As is indicated, it is possible to have either the very narrow bordertable or the wide border table depending entirely on the selection offrame members, and the center support may be demountably held by anydesired means such as bolts, or nuts, as shown in Figure 6, or by screws44 as shown in Figure 7. The frame, after being pressed into propershape to give a pleasing outer appearance, can then be welded in anydesired manner to give an integral structure. The table will thus berigid, strong, ornamental and of light weight and may be made by simplemanufacturing methods.

While I have shown a preferred form of embodiment of my invention, I amaware that other modifications may be made thereto and I thereforedesire a broad interpretation of my invention within the scope andspirit of the description ,herein and of the claims appendedhereinafter.

I claim: 4

1.- In a portable table of the type described, a rim having an offsetedge, a plurality of foldable legs supporting said rim, a detachablecenter portion, and means to removably secure said detachable centerportion to the offset edge. of said rim, a cover for said centerportion, means to secure said cover to said center portion whereby saidcenter portion and cover may be removed as an integral whole, and asecond cover on said center portion, said second cover being flexibleand transparent.

2. A folding portable table of the class described, comprising asupporting rim having an open rabbet groove in the top inner edgethereof, a lightweight center portion for said table and supported insaid rabbet in a substantially flush relation, detachable meansextending into said center portionand projecting through a part of saidrim to demountably retain said center portion in position, and aplurality of removable covers on said center portion and. extendingbetween said center portion and said rim in said rabbet, one of saidcovers being flexible and transparent, and legs pivotally secureddirectly to said rim and supporting said rim independently of saidcenter portion.

3. A folding portable table of the class described comprising a hollowmetallic supporting frame, a ledge extending from said frame and forminga support on the inner edge thereof, a lightweight center portion forsaid table supported on said ledge, securing means extending throughsaid ledge and contacting with said center portion to demountably retainsaid center portion in said frame, a reinforcing rod extending acrossthe frame to support the center por-- tion, a flexible transparent coveron said center portion and secured thereto, and foldable legs secured tosaid rim and supporting said rim independently of said center portion.

4. A portable, light weight and. rigid game table having a hollowtubular metallic rim portion supported by collapsible legs, said rimportion and center portion being of such position and thickness thatthecenter portion is substantially flush with the top of the rimportion, the rim portion being adapted to receive the legs of the tablein folded position substantially within its lower edge, and means tosecure said center portion to said projecting support, said centerportion being of slightly smaller dimensions than the opening in the rimso that the center portion may be covered and the cover be secured overthe edges of the center portion.

5. A portable, light weight and rigid game table having a hollow tubularmetallic rim portion supported by collapsible legs, said rim portionhaving a projecting support comprising an integral rabbeted edge on theinside thereof and below the top surface of the rim portion, and a lightweight center portion supported by said projecting rabbet, theprojecting rabbet and center portion being of such position andthicknessthat the center portion is substantially flush with the top of the rimportion, the rim portion being adapted to receive the legs of the tablein folded position substantially within its lower edge, and means todetachably secure said center portion to said projecting rabbet, saidcenter portion being of slightly smaller dimensions than the opening inthe rim so that the center portion may be covered and the cover besecured over the edges of the center portion.

WARREN S. BELLOWS.

DISCLAIMER 1,983,065.Wm"ren S. Bellows, Shaker Heights,- Ohio. TABLECONSTRUCTION. Patent dated December 4, 1934. Disclaimer filed August 24,1937, by the patentee. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claim 5 in saidspecification.

[Oflicial Gazette September 28, 1987.]

